What is Organic Clothing?

Organic clothing refers to the clothing and accessories that are made with a limited use of chemicals and with limited effect on the environment. It is made of materials, which are raised in or grown according to organic agricultural standards, and is usually composed of cotton, jute, silk, hemp, ramie or wool.

The clothes we wear these days are made from synthetic materials like nylon and polyester, made from petrochemicals, which pollutes the environment and causes global warming. They are non-biodegradable and emit nitrous oxide, a harmful green house gas during their production. Viscose is another artificial fiber that we use, produced from wood pulp by treating it with toxic chemicals like Sulphuric acid.

Compared to non-organic clothing which consumes a huge amount of pesticide per plant, organic clothing has fewer problems. Non-organic farmers who are directly exposed to dangerous pesticides are afflicted by illness and even death. These pesticides affect the local eco-system and kill certain plans and animals, causing an imbalance.

Certain dyes can cause cancer and in many parts of the world garments are dyed and bleached using hazardous chemicals without any proper precaution. These used chemicals can affect the farm workers and can even flow into local sewers and rivers damaging the eco-system.

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Demerits of conventional clothing products

Conventionally grown clothing accounts for more than 25% of worldwide insecticide use and 10% of the pesticides. Pesticides used are the most hazardous. In California, five of the top nine pesticides used are cancer causing.

Children are at greater risk for pesticide-related health problems than adults. Millions of children in the US receive up to 35% of their estimated lifetime dose of some carcinogenic pesticides by age five through food, contaminated drinking water, household use, and pesticide drift.

It takes one pound of chemical fertilizers and pesticides to conventionally grow the three pounds of cotton needed to make a T-shirt and a pair of jeans.

Hence all cloth products we use these days are treated with toxic chemicals, pesticides and cancer causing dyes. The only thing that can be done is to use organic clothing, making it a lifestyle.

Benefits of organic clothing

Organic clothing means a return to the harmless and justifiable practices. It is free from toxic chemicals and is grown on natural fertilizers. Organic farmers depend on the crop rotation process to maintain and replenish the soil fertility. Mechanical cultivation and biological practices are used to control pests and weed. Strict guidelines are set for transportation and storage to avoid cross contamination.

It is pesticide and toxin free. Organic clothing products are cultivated in such a way that no use of harmful pesticides is carried out. Pesticides cause numerous health concerns ranging from headaches, cancer, neurological disorders and even birth defects. The World Health Organization estimates that pesticides poison at least three million people every year, with 200,000 people dying from pesticide poisoning annually.

Organic clothing farming is carried out with an aim to minimize exposure to toxins like pesticides and insecticides. Compared to clothing products, organic clothing consumes 50 percent less energy.

Farm workers working in conventionally grown cotton fields in the US and around the world suffer from an abundance of toxic exposures and related health problems. Pesticides used on cotton cause acute poisonings and chronic illness to farm workers worldwide. Acute respiratory symptoms and other health effects in communities surrounding cotton farms are correlated with high use of defoliation chemicals.

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Types

Organic cotton is the most famous among the organic clothing products. They are used in manufacturing personal care items like sanitary products, cotton swabs, and baby diapers as well as in household products like towels, stationery products, sheets etc.

Organic wool, silk, hemp is other major organic clothing types. Hemp is a highly durable natural fiber that requires no pesticides and little water to grow and is a renewable resource; farmers are able to grow hemp crops continuously year after year. Hemp fibers can be used in clothing, skincare products and paper. To make hemp fabric less rigid, fibers are often blended with cotton or silk. Sustainable clothing or organic clothing uses fabrics made from renewable materials like bamboo, soy and Tencel, a wood pulp product. Sustainable clothing materials or organic clothing products can also be made using synthetic materials.

Bamboo is a popular organic clothing fabric and is eco-friendly. It grows fast without the use of any insecticide or pesticide. Bamboo is fully biodegradable. To make clothing out of bamboo or to make bamboo fiber the plant is pulped until it separates into thin threads that can be spun and woven into cloth. Bamboo makes excellent fabric for sportswear because of its natural antibacterial and moisture-wicking properties. Bamboo fabric is also noted for its silky feel.

Hemp has excellent properties and is being found more and more in organic clothing products. Hemp is an environmental friendly crop, and actually improves the condition of the soil. It requires no herbicides and is naturally resistant to insects, fungus, and other pests.

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Why?

Organic clothing is crucial for the world and us. Besides the quality of life benefits from using organic clothing, the quality of the organic clothing is significantly higher. Organic cotton plants produce longer and stable cotton fibers, which yield stronger yarn and more durable fabrics. Pesticide-free long-stable cotton also feels softer and more breathable and luxurious when worn. People are experiencing a wide range of health problems due to alarmingly growing chemical sensitiveness. People diagnosed with Multiple Chemical Sensitiveness find organic clothing products more essential in reducing their exposure to the vast array of toxic chemicals that they are exposed to unknowingly everyday.

There is another reason why people are becoming excited about organic clothing and that is because of the trending fashion releases by some of the hot, new designers as they turn to eco-fashion.

Regardless of whether one is concerned or not about this planet and its environment, there are countless benefits to wearing organic clothing. It's likely the majority of individuals who wear organic clothing, are not even aware of it. The one who do wear sustainable clothing, are aware, and are consciously making the effort to better the planet with their actions.

Also buying organic garments makes sense, as they are cost-effective, eco-friendly, and durable in the long run. The fade resistant organic fabric offers outfits to withstand more machine-wash than most non-organic clothing.

Author is an active member of the blogging community since 2010. He has published various articles on topics related to Food, Travel, Coffee, Pepper and Spices Online. Go to http://www.natureandswami.com to buy Natural Arabica Coffee,Organic Pepper, Yoga Kits, yoga pants, accessories, Organic t shirts men/women , filter coffee brew kit, coffee mugs online from Christian Fabre‏.

Bamboo clothes and eco-friendly fabrics have become a growing trend in the fashion field, mainly due to their numerous benefits. These clothes are not only more comfortable and more convenient compared to classic synthetic fabrics, but they can be considerably more cost-effective as well.